Shoe stretching last



NOV. 21, p LA MARCA SHOE STRETCHING LAST Filed Aug. 9, 1932 3Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VE N TOR.

fluum M r 7 W ATTORNEYS W/T/YESSES Nov. 21, 1933.

P. LA MARCA SHOE STRETCHING LAST 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 9, 1932INVENTOR @272 a, M B EW m w x A TTORNEYs- NOV. 21, LA MARCA SHOESTRETCHING LAST Filed Aug. 9, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR' 2/ BY 722,52 M 6/1430 2; 1L rj 4 ATTORNEYJ corn or bunion or other foot defect.

Patented Nov. 21, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHOE STRETCHING LASTPatsy La Marca, Coraopolis, Pa. Application August 9, 1932. Serial No.628,034

8 Claims.

7 This invention relates to a shoe-stretching last and has for itsprimary object the provisions of an improved form of adjustable lastwhich can be advantageously used for stretching shoes, slippers or otherfootwear, or as a tree for retaining such footgear in shape when not inuse.

A more particular object is to provide a stretcher of the above-notedcharacter comprising a novel construction and arrangement of parts,which is adapted to be quickly and readily adjusted to elongate a shoe,widen the ball or heel portion thereof, stretch or raise the instep,

including the toe, and distort the shoe at the will of the operator toprevent pressure upon a various other novel features and advantages ofthe invention, will be apparent when the following detailed descriptionis read in conjunction with; the accompanying drawings, of which Fig. 1is a side elevation of a single embodiment of the invention'; Fig. 2 atop plan View of the same showing a portion of the instep in section;Fig. 3 a vertical section taken on the line III'III of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 aplan view of the heel with the instep-adjusting screw removed; Fig. 5 asectional view of the heel taken on the line V--V of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 anelevational view on the line of Fig. 3; Fig.7 a plan view of the instepsection of the last; Fig. 8 a side elevation of one of the expansibleside sections of the last proper;

Fig. 9 a plan view of the expansible side section shown in Fig. 8; andFig. 10 a perspective View of a key adapted for use in operating theadjusting screws of the last.

eferring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a plateformed substantially in the shape of the human foot which comprises thebottom of the last and functions as a support for its various otherparts. At the toe end of such plate, there is provided a transverseblock 2 to which a detachable toe section 3 is connected. This lattersection is cut away on its-under side to fit over the block 2, and isequipped with pins 4 which fit in holes 5, provided in such block. Onthe top of this transverse block 2 the lower end of 'a shell-like instepsection 7 is pivotally mounted by a hinge 8 to form the instep, coveringof the last. The upper end of this instep section base,

slot 7a in it, and in such slot'a threaded nut 9. is slidably engaged. Athreaded rod 11 is in turn passed through this nut for adjusting theheight of the instep, as well as for holding the latter in a selectedposition, the lower end of the rod being supported in a socket 1 3 mounted on plate 1, and the upper end 14 shaped to receive an adjusting key15, see Fig. 10.

At the sides of the tongue-shaped instep sec-' tion '7 there is provideda pair of expansible side sections 16, which, with the instep sectionand toe, form the forward part of the foot. The rear ends of thesesections 16 are provided with flanges 1'7 which form channels 18 whichare adapted to fit over the end of a lever-supporting and guidingpartition 19, mounted on the sole plate 1 at the forward end of the heelportion of the last.

To provide for lateral adjustment of theseside sections, hollow-threadedtrunnion-like projections 21 are mounted on their, interiors, near theircentral and lower edges, the lower surfaces of such projections restingon the top of sole plate 1. Within such projections a pair of screws 22is engaged. The inner ends of these screws are supported in brackets 23mounted .on'. the plate 1, and they are equipped with miter gears 24arranged to mesh with a third miter gear 25,

mounted on the lower end of an adjusting rod, 26, Y supported at itslower end in a bracket 2'7,v adja- 99 cent such gear and passed throughan opening 20 in wall 19, from which itis extended to the top of thelast. To effect lateral adjustment of sections 16, the key 15 may beapplied tothe end of this latter rod and turned, the screws 22 havingreverse threads so that the same movement is imparted to both sections16 by the turning of the rod.

To provide for stretching a shoe in'the vicinity of that portion of thefoot where corns and bunions most frequently occur, the side sections 16are cut away at 16a, oppositethe forward joints of the foot, and thewall of the last is formed at that part by adjustable blocks 28, whichare slidably held upon the plate 1 by flat-headed keepers 29 mounted ina transverse slot 30 (see Fig. 3). For adjusting these blocks a .pair ofoppositely-threaded screws 31 is engaged in them, being mounted at theirinner ends in a pair of brackets 32 secured to the plate 1 and equippedwith miter gears 33 which are disposed to mesh with a miter gear 34mounted on the end of the adjusting rod 35 which is extended to theopening in the top of the last. The lower end of this rod, like the rod26, is supported in a bracket 36, while its upper end is passed throughan opening 40 in the supporting wall 19. To provide for varying the areaafiected by these blocks, removable plugs 38 are provided. These plugswhich may have different desired shapes, are secured to the blocks 28 bypins 38a.

To assist in stretching the top part of the toe of a shoe with theinstep section 7 which is adjusted by the screw 11, a curved plate 39 isprovided to fit over the junction where the toe 3 joins the instepsection 7. This plate is held in place on the toe 3 by a pin 41, andextended sufficiently far enough upward on the instep section '7 so thatwhen that latter section is raised, it will elevate the plate 39 in amanner to raise the toe portion of the shoe.

The heel portion of the last is made up of a skeleton-shaped frame 42,which is slidably mounted on the heel portion of the plate 1. The lowerpart of this frame consists of a block 43 having tapered side walls 44.To guide such block when the last is elongated, a tongue 45 is providedon the sole plate 1 which fits in a groove 46 in the block. For movingthe heel frame 42 and its associated parts rearwardly, a threadedbore'47 is provided in block 43 near one side thereof, running from itsfront face rearwardly, and in this a screw 48 is engaged. The forwardend of this screw is supported in wall 19, and is equipped with a mitergear 49, which meshes with a similar gear 51, mounted on an adjustingrod 52, this rod being extended through an opening 50 in wall 19 to thetop of the last. To vary the length of the shoe with this arrangement,all that is necessary is to turn the rod 52 in the necessary directionto effect the desired change in length.

The counter portions of the last, or the heel sides, are formed by apair of curved sections 53 which are tapered at 54 on their lower innersurfaces to fit against the tapered walls 44 of the block 43 when theheel is contracted to its smallest size. In the central portion of thesecounter sections 53, there are provided trunnion-like projections 55which have a flat surface on their lower edgewhich is adapted to rideupon the top 56 of the block 43, and guide the sections 53 in ahorizontal plane when they are moved inwardly or outwardly. Foradjusting the counter sections 53, the trunnions 55 are threaded in areverse manner, and a pair of screws 57 are engaged in these threads,These screws are supported at their inner ends in brackets 58, mountedon the block 43, and provided with miter gears 59, which are engaged bya cooperating miter gear 61, mounted on the lower end of an adjustingrod 62 which is carried to the top of the last adjacent the otheradjusting rods, being supported at its lower end in a bracket 63.

As shown in the drawings, the side or counter sections 53 0f the heelportion of the last do not extend all of the way around the rear part ofthe last. This latter part of the last is formed by a removable rearheel section 64 which is held in place by pins 65 which engage in holes66 provided in an upright part 67 of frame 42. This heel section 64,like the toe section 3, is supplied in different sizes to be fitted onthe last when it is adjusted for different sizes of shoes.

An advantage of the invention is that all of the movable parts of thelast are mounted 50 a justment on a single sole forming plate which doesnot move when the last is'adjusted. Another advantage is that all partsof the shoe may be stretched by this last, irrespective of every otherpart, or all at the same time. A further advantage resides in thecompact, simple, and sturdy construction employed, which renders thelast very durable, as well as capable of readily and efiectivelyperforming its functions.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained theprinciple and mode of operation of my invention, and have illustratedand described what I now consider to be its best embodiment. However, Idesire to have it understood that, within the scope of the appendedclaims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specificallyillustrated and described.

1. A shoe stretching last comprising a bottom plate conformingsubstantially to the shape of the sole of a human foot, a pair oflaterally-adjustable side instep sections mounted on said plate, avertically adjustable central instep covering section disposed betweensaid side sections and pivotally attached at its lower end to said soleplate, a detachable toe section mounted on the forward end of said soleplate and forming with said instep sections the forward end of the last,an axially movable heel frame mounted on the rear end of said soleplate, a pair of laterally movable counter sections mounted on saidframe, and a detachable rear heel tip mounted on the rear of said frameto form the rear end of said last.

2. A shoe stretching last comprising va bottom plate conformingsubstantially to the shape of the sole of a human foot, a pair oflaterallyadjustable side instep sections mounted on said plate, screwmeans operable from the top of the last for adjusting said sections,acentral instep covering section disposed between said side sections andpivotally attached to said sole plate at its lower end, screw means forelevating the upper end of said central instep section, a toe sectionremovably mounted on the end of said sole plate and forming with saidinstep sections the forward end of the last, an axially movable heelsection mounted on the rear end of said sole plate, and screw means foradjusting said heel section.

3. A shoe stretching last comprising a bottom plate conformingsubstantially to the shape of the sole of a human foot, a pair oflaterallyadjustable side instep sections mounted on said plate, screwmeans for adjusting said sections. a central instep covering sectiondisposed between said side sections and pivotally attached at its lowerend to said sole plate, screw means for vertically adjusting the upperend of said central section, a toe section detachably mounted on the endof said sole plate to form with said instep sections the forward end ofthe last, an axially movable heel frame mountedonthe rear end of saidsole plate, screw means for adjusting said frame, a pair of laterallymovable counter sections mounted on said heel frame, screw means foradjusting said counter sections, and a detachable rear heel sectionmounted on the rear of said heel frame between said counter sections.

4. A shoe stretching last comprising a bottom plate conformingsubstantially to the shape of the an adjusting rod connected by mitergears with said screws for adjusting said instep side sections, acentral instep-covering section disposed between said side sections andpivotally attached at its lower end to said sole plate, a screw mountedon said sole plate for vertically adjusting the upper end of saidcentral section, a toe section detachably mounted on the end of saidsole plate and forming with said instep sections the forward end of thelast, an axially movable heel frame mounted on the rear end of said soleplate,

a screw threadably engaged in said frame and anchored at its forward endto said sole plate, an adjusting rod connected through miter gears tosaid screw for adjusting said heel frame, a pair of laterally movablecounter sections mounted on said frame, screw means for adjusting saidcounter sections, and a detachable rear heel tip mounted between saidcounter sections on the rear of said heel frame.

5. A shoe stretching last comprising a bottom plate conformingsubstantially to the shape of the sole of a human foot, a pair oflaterallyadjustable side instep sections mounted on said plate, acentral instep-covering section mounted between said side sections andpivotally attached at its lower end to said sole plate, a toe sectiondetachably mounted on the end of said sole plate and forming with saidinstep sections the forward end of the last, a shoe stretching platemounted over the junction of said toe and instep sections, an axiallymovable heel frame mounted on the rear end of said sole plate, a pair oflaterally movable counter sections mounted on said heel frame, and adetachable rear heel tip mounted on the rear of said frame between saidcounter sections.

6. A shoe stretching last comprising a bottom plate conformingsubstantially to the shape of the sole of a human foot, a pair oflaterallyadjustable side instep sections mounted on said plate, screwmeans extended to the top of said last for adjusting said sections, acentral instepcovering section disposed between said side sections andpivotally attached at its lower end to said sole plate, screw means atthe upper end of said central instep section for vertically adjustingit, a toe section detachably mounted on the end of said sole plate toform with said instep sections the forward end of the last, an axiallymovable heel frame mounted on the rear end of said sole plate, screwmeans extended to the top of the last for adjusting said frame, a pairof laterally movable counter sections mounted on said frame, screw meansextended to the top of the last for adjusting said counter sections, anda detachable rear heel tip mounted on the rear of said frame betweensaid counter sections to form the rear end of said last, said screwadjusting means having their adjusting ends all located in a compactgroup above said heel frame.

'7. A shoe-stretching last comprising a main supporting frame having apair of oppositely disposed instep sections mounted for uniform lateralmovement on said frame, a pair of oppositely disposed toe-jointexpanding elements mounted for uniform lateral movement adjacent theforward end of said frame, a toe section detachably connected to saidframe, an axially extended heel mounted on said frame, a central instepcover section mounted over the junction of said laterally adjustableside elements with its lower end pivotally connected to said frame, andmeans for separately adjusting said instep sections, said joint section,said heel and the upper end of said instep cover section.

8. A shoe-stretching last comprising a main supporting frame having apair of oppositely disposed instep sections mounted for uniform lateralmovement on said frame, a pair of oppositely disposed toe-jointexpanding elements mounted for uniform lateral movement adjacent theforward end of said frame, a toe section detachably connected to saidframe, an axially extended heel mounted on said frame, a central instepcover section mounted over the junction of said laterally adjustableside elements with its lower end pivotally connected to said frame, apair of counter sections mounted for uniform lateral adjustment on theopposite sides of said heel, a heel tip detachably mounted on the backof said heel between said counter sections, and means for separatelyadjusting said instep sections, said joint sections, said countersections and said instep cover section.

PATSY LA MARCA.

